Openers rally Red Force after Singh, Johnson fortify Jaguars

Vishaul Singh batted impressively for his eighth first-class hundred. (File photo)

Johnson, establishing a new Jaguars third-wicket record against Red Force in the modern era of the West Indies first-class championship (1966 onwards) to eclipse the previous mark of 179 shared between legendary, former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd and another former Windies batsman Len Baichan 44 years ago at Skeldon in Guyana.

Starting the day on 245 for two, the Jaguars reached 315 without further loss at the first interval, as Johnson continued to bat resolutely and Singh reached his 50 from 128 balls just before the break.

After the interval, Singh and Johnson continued to grind the Red Force bowlers to achieve their personal milestones before Charles opened the floodgates.

He had Singh, whose 211-ball innings in close to 4 ¼ hours was adorned by seven fours, caught behind from a dab in the over after the left-hander reached his hundred.

Charles then trapped wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble lbw for a duck two balls later before removing Johnson, following his marathon innings that included 18 boundaries from 359 balls

in close to 8 ¼ hours, and veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul in successive overs to leave the visitors on 402 for six.

Jaguars reached 417 for six at the second interval, as Keemo Paul, the former Windies Under-19 allrounder, and Sherfane Rutherford lifted the tempo with a few lusty hits.

But Paul and Rutherford fell within five overs of each other after the break before Veerasammy Permaul with a typically effervescent 31 and fellow left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie hastened the declaration with an unbroken stand of 39.